Psalm 111

Today is Easter/Resurrection Day in the Western World.  There is no greater work of God than sending redemption to His people, as this Psalm reminds us.  Our prayer for you, and for myself, is that we might live as people who have been raised with Christ from the dead.  Praise His Name!

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Here is a great Hymn with an important message that might not come through clearly until the final verse.  The writer is full of praise and a desire to share it with all the saints (v1).  The causes of his praise are the works of the LORD (v2). He refers to God’s work or works five times (v2, 3, 4, 6, 7). 

Notice v2: God’s works are studied by all who have pleasure in them.  God’s works are carefully sought out or enquired about, so studied is a great word.  They are important, worth studying in school or as a continuing interest in life.

What works is he talking about?  Several areas are specified.  In v5 God has given food to those who fear Him.  In v9 He has sent redemption to His people.  In both cases the hymnist adds a comment about God’s faithfulness to His covenant.  In addition the Psalmist also references the inheritance God has given to His people, that of the nations (v6) as well as His true and just precepts (7).  All these are major themes and involve the work of God.

You can see why the writer is full of praise.  Truly God’s works are honorable and glorious (v3) and wonderful (v4).  God is properly praised as righteous (v3), gracious and full of compassion (v4), powerful (v6), holy and awesome (v9). 

What the writer has done is recognize God in all areas of life: creation, history and the salvation of His people.  To see the works of God all around is to have the fear of the LORD (v10) and the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  That final verse says that those who have a good understanding, that is who have studied the works of God, and who order their lives according to what God is doing (they do His commandments), these are the ones who are truly wise.

These words in v10 might sound familiar, and they should for they are fundamental to the book of Proverbs, which is the classic book of Wisdom in the Bible (Prov. 1:7; 9:10).  The Proverbs express truths, the works of God, which are observed in life.  But at the same time, they are His precepts on how we are to live our lives.  These treasures of wisdom and knowledge are bound up in Christ (Col. 2:3; Prov. 8:22-31).  When, in our study, we have discovered this we are truly wise. 

No one can understand truth, about the world around him, about the course of history, about spiritual realities and the life to come, who does not fear the Lord.  No one!  Are you a student of the works of the LORD?

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Additional thoughts on Psalm 111

January 5, 2020.

A fresh reading this morning brought such renewed joy, perhaps related to the new year.  Here are some reflections.

“It is true, Father.  Your works are …

1.       v2: great, worthy to be studied, meaning to seek out, enquire about.

2.       v3: perfect in character.  They are honorable (majestic), glorious, righteous.

3.       v4: wonderful, worthy to be remembered, memorized, retold.  They are reflections of Your name (gracious, full of compassion comes from the name of God in Exodus 34:6-7). 

4.       v5: the fulfillment of your word.  You made a covenant; You keep that covenant through your great works.

5.       v6: powerful.  Again, it’s not just words or promises of power; Your works demonstrate or show or reveal and fulfill Your power.

6.       v7: true (verity, Heb. “emeth”, the term used many times with “checed”, Your faithfulness and lovingkindness).  In other words, in all ways they are according to Your own laws.  They are true to the need.  They are NEVER mythological. 

7.       v8a: enduring.  What your works say and do has lasting/eternal value.  To this day even!  And into eternity.

8.       v8b: all done with a proper motivation.  You were never conflicted about sending Your Son.  You never needed to ask Him for forgiveness (as one man once said in a Bible study where the man told us things God told him; he clearly did not get them from the Bible).  You were never mean and cruel to Your Son, the terrible father beating his son (as we actually heard someone preach).  Your motivations were true (again, “emeth”) and upright all across the infinite breadth of who You are. 

9.       v9ab: the source of redemption (ransom; used in Ex. 8:23, You treated Israel in Egypt differently; Ps. 130:7: with You is abundant redemption; Isa. 50:2, Your hand is never too short to redeem, even me).  Amen and amen!!!

10.    v9c: what separates You from all other so-called “gods.”  There is none like You!  You are holy and awesome!

My response is first a sense of shame.  Oh, my Father, why have I not and why do I not fear You?  May it be different from this moment.  May I produce works, through Your Spirit and Your grace, that contribute to You great works. 

Then I also see the blessing of confidence in You, Lord.  My confidence in You means I have understanding, in so far as I study and remember Your works and DO Your will.  Jesus said this, more than once, that His disciples are those who do the Father's will (Matt. 12:50; Jn. 15:14).  By Your Spirit and by Your grace!

In my additional reading today, I also came to Psalm 143 where David, in his distress (v4), remembered Your works (v5-6).  I trust in You (v7-8).  Lead me today (v9-10).  Revive me (v11); be my life, make me alive with the life of Christ.